Ups, downs and the race for Europe – key issues across the leagues

19 April – Hamilton relegated to Scottish League One

18 April – Shrewsbury relegated to League Two

18 April – AFC Fylde relegated to National League North

13 April – Liverpool secure Champions League place

12 April – BIrmingham clinch League One title

The top five teams are guaranteed qualification for the league phase of the Champions League – with Arsenal’s win over Real Madrid on 8 April making certain that England will be one of the two associations with the highest Uefa coefficients for 2024-25, and clinching a fifth place in addition to the usual four.

Leaders Liverpool have now made certain of their Champions League place, and require a maximum of six points from their last six games to clinch the title.

There are also places in the league phase reserved for the winners of this season’s Champions League and Europa League, regardless of their domestic league positions.

The sixth-placed Premier League team will qualify for the league phase of the Europa League, along with the FA Cup winners. If the FA Cup winners have already qualified for the Champions League, that Europa place reverts to the league.

Newcastle United‘s victory in the Carabao Cup final means that at worst they will qualify for the Conference League play-off round. But if they qualify for Europe by their league position, that Conference League spot will revert to the league.

If Chelsea win the Conference League but fail to reach the Champions League, they will qualify for the league phase of the Europa League.

The WSL champions will enter the league phase of the Champions League, with the runners-up entering at the second round and the third-placed side in the first round.

Leaders Chelsea are already assured of their Champions League place, with Arsenal and Manchester United close to joining them.

The top two teams will be automatically promoted to the Premier League. This will be two from Leeds, Burnley and Sheffield United.

Leeds will be promoted on Monday if they win and Sheffield United fail to beat Burnley, who will themselves be promoted if they defeat the Blades.

Whoever is not automatically promoted will contest the play-offs with Sunderland and two other sides.

The top two teams will be automatically promoted to the Championship, with the next four entering a play-off.

Birmingham City became the first team in England’s top five divisions to be promoted when they won 2-1 at Peterborough on 8 April, and clinched the title without kicking a ball four days later as Wrexham drew 0-0 at Wigan.

Wycombe, Wrexham and Charlton are assured of at least a play-off place, with Stockport needing one more point to join them.

The top three teams will be automatically promoted to League One, with the next four entering a play-off.

Leaders Port Vale are assured of at least a play-off place, and could be promoted as early as Monday if they win and several other results go in their favour.

The title, and the sole automatic promotion place, is between Barnet and York – with the Bees needing a maximum of six points from their last three games to clinch it.

Whoever does not win the title will contest the play-offs with Forest Green Rovers and four other teams.

The bottom four teams will be relegated to National League North or South, and will be replaced with the champions and play-off winners of those two divisions.

Celtic will win the Premiership title unless they lose their last five games and Rangers win all of theirs while making up a 42-goal swing in goal difference.

The champions will enter the Champions League play-off round, with the runners-up entering in the second qualifying round.

The Premiership now splits in half after 33 games – with each club playing the others in their ‘half’ for a fourth and final time.

Celtic, Rangers, Hibernian, Dundee United, Aberdeen and St Mirren will all be in the top half, with St Johnstone, Dundee, Ross County, Kilmarnock, Motherwell and Hearts in the bottom half.

The Scottish Cup winners will enter the Europa League at the play-off round. If the cup winners finish in the top two, that Europa place reverts to the league.

The third-placed Premiership team will enter the Europa League at the second qualifying round, with the fourth-placed team entering the Conference League at the second qualifying round.

The champions – Falkirk or Livingston – will be promoted to the Scottish Premiership. Falkirk need a maximum of four points from their last two games to clinch the title.

Whoever does not win the division will enter a play-off with Ayr United, one other Championship side and the 11th-placed Premiership team.

Bottom club Hamilton Academical were deducted 15 points on 17 April for a breach of SPFL rules, and their relegation was confirmed two days later after a 0-0 draw with Queen’s Park, though the Accies could yet appeal against the deduction.

Arbroath were promoted to the Scottish Championship after beating Stranraer 4-0 on 12 April to clinch the title.

The next three teams will enter a play-off with the ninth-placed Championship side.

Bottom club Dumbarton are relegated to Scottish League Two. They became the first SPFL team to be relegated after drawing 0-0 with Queen of the South on 22 March.

The champions – Peterhead or East Fife – will be automatically promoted to Scottish League One. Whoever does not win the title will enter a play-off with two other League Two teams and the ninth-placed League One side.

Highland League champions Brora Rangers and Lowland League winners East Kilbride will contest a two-legged play-off on 26 April and 3 May, with the winners facing the 10th-placed League Two team (on 10 and 17 May) for the final place in League Two for 2025-26.